Coolant regulator for wet grinding wheels



March 27, 1951 w ss ET AL 2,546,805

COOLANT REGULATOR FOR WET GRINDING WHEELS Filed Sept. 20, 1950 Inventors: Kar! Weiss, Herman R. Sautter Their Attorney.

Patented Mar. 27, 1951 COOLANT REGULATOR F03 (VET GRINDING WHEELS Karl Weiss, Schenectady, and Herman R. Sautter,

West Albany, N. Y., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application September 20, 1950, Serial No. 185,752

This invention relates to Wet grinding Wheels, in which a coolant such as water is supplied to a central bore in the wheel and caused by centrifugal force to fiow radially outward through the interstices in the wheel material to the cutting face. It relates particularlv to an arrangement for permitting ready control both of the quantity and distribution of the coolant across the face of the wheel.

The present invention represents an improvement in wet grinding wheels of the general type/ disclosed in the United States patent to Scheer, 2,380,332, issued July 10, 1945. In practicing the invention of the Scheer patent, it is found that commercially obtainable grinding wheels are of sufficiently uneven porosity as to render objectionably non-uniform the distribution of the coolant liquid discharged across the width of the wheel at the cutting surface thereof. This means that excessive heat is generated, and the permissible rate of cutting is slowed down, with the result that the wheel must be dressed more frequently and the wheel life is thereby shortened.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide means for s regulating the supply of coolant to the wheel proper that the discharge of coolant at the cutting face is controlled as desired, in order to overcome the above-mentioned difiiculties.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a grinding wheel assembly incorporating the invention, Fig. 2 is an end view of the wheel assembly taken on the plane 22 in Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a developed view of a portion of the circumference of the coolant control member.

Generally, the above-mentioned objects are achieved by deliberately unbalancin the distri-. bution of water to the wheel at its inner circumference, the unbalance being carefully selected so as to compensate for any inequalities present in the structure of the specific wheel being used.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. l, the grindin wheel l is provided with a central bore for mounting the wheel on a special bushing assembly containing the coolant regulating means.

This bushing comprises a first bushing member 2 and a second bushing member 3, each having central bores to receive the shaft As will be apparent from Fig.v 1, a clamping nut 5 forces the flange 3 against the radial face of the wheel I so as to clamp it against the flange 2, end-Wise 5 Claims (01. 51-267) 2 movement of which is resisted by a locating col lar 6 on shaft 4.

Thefirst flange member 2 defines an annular coolant inlet chamber 1. having an annular inlet la to which water is supplied by a nozzle 8 and a supply conduit Shaving a suitable valve Ill for regulating the total. quantity of coolant supplied. Extending axially from the main portion of the flange member 2 is a cylindrical portion ll, the outer circumference of which forms the seat for the grinding wheel. This extension H is pro-- vided with four axially extending rows of radial holes Haspaced 90 apart, there bein three holes in eachrow. In order to get good distribution of coolant across the face of the wheel, the middle hole is placed exactly at the middle of the grinding wheel width, while the other two holes are half-way between the middle hole and the side of the wheel.

Coolant from the annular supply chamber 1 is delivered to thecentral chamber l2 by means of two or more equally spaced holes l3. Secured in the axial extension H. of bushing 2 is a distributing sleeve or cylinder I l having a'radially extending flange portion M adapted to be secured in bushing member 2, as by a light press fit or other suitable means. It is to be noted that this distributing cylinder 14 has an edge portion 1% terminating at the middle of the wheel width, for a reason to be noted hereinafter in connection with the operation of the wheel. Supported within. the axial bushing extension l i and forming a small clearance with the inner circumferential surface thereof is a coolant dis tributor and regulator member in the form of a cylinder :5 having perforations arranged as described more particularly in connection with Fig. 3 hereinafter andsecured at its right-hand circumferenc'e to a ring it, the connecting being made by suitable fastening means, for instance the rivets lta. It will of course be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this construction is for manufacturing convenience, and the flow regulating cylinder could very well be formed integral. with the end ring it.

Th6 supporting ring it is received in an annu lar recess 3a inthe second flange 3. 1 Serving to retain the support ring it in place in the recess 3a is an annular plate 25 secured to flange 3 by suitable threaded fastenings 22. Ring 56 is adapted to be adjusted circumferentially relative to flange 3 so as to alter the position of the perforations ii relative to the portslicn This adjustment is efiected by means which will be an parent from Figs. 1 and 2, including a pair of diametrically spaced studs 18 threadedly secured at one end to the ring l6, projecting through a pair of arcuate slots 3b in the flange member 3 and having another end portion with a head ,iSa received in a counterbore in retaining ring as. Ring 19 is adapted to be clamped in fixed relation to the flange member 3 by a second pair of diametrically opposed locking screws 28 which, as will be apparent from Fig. 2, extend through arcuate slots We in adjusting ring it and are threaded into the flange 3.

It will be apparent from the above description that the studs l8 and adjusting ring I!) are free to be moved circumferentially relative to flange 3, during which the studs l8 traverse the arcuate slots 31), so that the flow regulating sleeve l5 can be adjustably positioned relative to the ports Na in the axial flange extension ll. Regulating sleeve 15 .is locked in any desired adjusted position by tightening the locking screws 28. It will also be apparent that this adjustment may be readily made from the exterior of the assembly merely by stopping the grinding wheel, and without any further disassembly required than flange 2 during the process of adjusting the flow regulator cylinder 1'5, the relative position of flange .members '2 and 3 maybe fixed by means of one or more axially extending dowel pins .23.

The arrangement of the perforations H in the flow regulatin cylinder I 5 is shown in Fig. '3.

' There are actually four circumferentially spaced sets of holes corresponding to the pattern illustrated in Fig. 3. In other words, Fig. 3 repre" sents the perforations in one 93 segment of the cylinder 15, this pattern being repeated around the circumference of cylinder '5 5. As will be seen in Fig. 3, the perforations 13 are arranged in seven separate axially extending rows. The first row Ha comprises three holes spaced substantially uniformlyacross the face of the Wheel.

The second row llb has only two holes, the middle one being omitted. In row [lo the righthand hole is omitted; while in row lid the lefthand hole is omitted. Row Ile has one perforation only at the left-hand side of the wheel; while row l'if has a single hole at the righthand side of the wheel. Row llg consists of a single perforation at the middle of the wheel.

It will be seen that this pattern of perforations permits coolant to be supplied equally to all three sets of ports Ha when row lid is aligned with ports Ila. If the particular grinding wheel used happens to be denser at the sides than at the center portion, then row lib may be aligned with the ports Ha so that proportionally more water is delivered to the side portions of the wheel. If the operator should find that more water is required at the left-hand side of the wheel face, then the row He will be aligned with the ports Ila. If only a very small quantity of water is required at the extreme left-hand edge of the Wheel then the row We would be selected; and if a small quantity of water is required at the middle of the wheel only, the row l'ig would be used. It will be apparent from the pattern d illustrated in Fig. 3 that the distribution of the coolant can thus be increased to either edge or to the center of the Wheel, or made uniform across the Whole wheel Width.

Thus the operator can, by repeatedly adjusting the flow regulating cylinder, either procure completely uniform distribution of coolant across the cutting face of the wheel, to compensate for any non-uniformity of porosity of the particular wheel, or he can deliberately unbalance the distribution of water across the face of the wheel in accordance with any special requirements of the particular grinding job being performed. Furthermore, while the coarse adjustment of ring l9 determines the distribution of water across the wheel face, by aligning the appropriate row of holes H with the ports Ha, the quantity of coolant admitted to the grinding Wheel may be determined by the fine adjustment of regulator cylinder [5 relative to ports Ila, this fine adjustment being effected by moving the appropriate row of ports I! slightly :out of register with the ports lla so as to reduce the efieotive area of the passage for the liquid. As indicated above, the coarse adjustment for the quantity of coolant supplied is provided by the flow regu lating valve H3 in a supply conduit 5.

In operation, a suitable coolant liquid such as water is supplied by way of conduit 9 to the inlet chamber i, whence it flows through the axially extending holes 13 and along the inner circumference of the distributin cylinder 44. Centrifugal force will insure that the coolant will be distributed uniformly circumferentially in the chamber 1, and any discontinuity introduced by the flow through the discrete holes 13 will again be smoothed out by centrifugal force so that the liquid is distributed uniformly on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 14. Since -.cy-linder i4 is not perforated, ,all the coolant is discharged at the extreme edge portion Mb. As noted .above, this edge portion Mb is located exactly at the middle of the Wheel face width. This insures that liquid suDDlied to the inner circumference .of the regulating cylinder !5 will flow equally to the right and left thereof so as to be distributed uniformly in an axial direction.

'As described. in the above-mentioned patent to Scheer, the radially extending .side surfaces of the wheel may be provided with an impervious coating .to prevent the lossof coolant axially from the .sidesurfaces .of the wheel, which loss would increase the consumption of the coolant and make for discomfort to the operator by reason of excess water being thrown around where it does .-no good.

It may also be observed that the .flow regulating cylinder I 5 is provided with an inwardly .extending circumferential lip 15a at the left-hand edge :thereof, this lip serving to prevent the overflow of coolant around the left-hand edge of the regulating cylinder 15.

In order .to vent any entrained air which may be centrifuged from the coolant, an axial groove 3d is provided in the central bore of flange .memher 3, communicating with a radial hole Sic. The radial hole will have a centrifugal pumping effect tending to suck out the air which is separated from the coolant.

'If the operator should discover that coolant is not being discharged uniformly across the wheel face width, or if he should desire for special reasons to deliberately unbalance'thedistribution of coolant at 'thecutting face, he merely stops the wheel, loosens the two locking screws 20, shifts the adjusting ring I9 circumferentially to select a different pattern of supply holes l1, each-pattern being represented by one of the indicating markson thescale 3c. After again locking the screws 20, further operation of the wheel will determine whether the coolant distribution is as desired.

' Thus it will be apparent that either the axial distribution of water across the face of the wheel or the quantity of coolant supplied can be adjusted accurately and with comparative case without any complicated disassembly of the grinding wheel.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications might be made. 'The'general arrangement of the wheel supporting .fianges 2, 3 may be varied greatly so long as they are in general accordance with the above-mentioned patent to Scheer 2,380,332. Furthermore, the distributing cylinder 15 might readily be machined integral with the first bushing member 2. There could of course ,be more than three of the holes Ha in each axial row of a larger number of smaller holes were found to give superior results. Also the mechanism for shifting the regulating cylinder i5 relative to end flange 3 could take many forms. In some applications where the coolant distribution need not be determined so precisely, the flow distributing cylinder I4 may be omitted and the flow regulating cylinder is employed by itself to determine the quantity and distribution of coolant supplied. For optimum results however the distributing cylinder I4 is used to insure best uniformity of distribution of coolant in an axial direction across the inner circumference of the fiow regulating cylinder l5.

Many other changes will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it is desired to cover by the appended claims all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. I

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a wet grinding wheel assembly of the type having first and second wheel support flange members one of which has an annular coolant inlet chamber with axially extending passages for admitting liquid coolant to a central recess within the grinding wheel, the combination of a wheel support cylinder connected with one bushing member and having aplurality of circumferentially spaced axial rows of ports for supplying coolant to the central recess of the grinding wheel, a flow regulating cylinder member supported from the other bushing member and disposed within and closely'adjacent the inner surface of the wheel support cylinder, said flow regulating cylinder having a plurality of axial rows 7 of difierently arranged holes in varying numbers,

' support cylinder extending axially from the inlet bushing member and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial rows of ports adapted to supply coolant to the inner circumference of the wheel, a second flow regulating cylinder member supported'frcm the other bushing member and disposed within and closelyadiacent'the wheel support cylinder, the flow regulating cylinder having a plurality of axial rows-ot diiferently arranged holes in varying numbers, means for adjusting the regulating cylinder circumfererrtially to selectively align the rows of holes therein with said rows of ports in the wheel support cylinder, and means for locking said flow regu-- lating cylinder relative to the wheel support cylinder, whereby a desired rate of supply and distribution of coolant to the grinding wheel is effected.

3. In a wet grinding wheel assembly of the type having first and second wheel support flanges one of which has an annular coolant inlet chamber with axially extending passage 'means for admitting coolant to a central recess within the grinding wheel, the combinationof a first wheel support cylinder extending axially from the inlet bushing member and havingfa plurality of circumferentially spaced axial {rows of ports adapted to supply coolant to the central recess of the wheel, a second flow regulating cylinder supported from the other bushing member and disposed within and closely adjacent the wheel support cylinder, the how regulating cylinder being provided with a plurality of axial rows of differently arranged holes in varying numbers, a third fiow distributing cylinder secured to the first bushing member and disposed within and radially spaced from the second regulating cylinder, the inner surface of the distributing cylinder being adapted to receive coolant from'said axially extending coolant inlet passages and the circumferential edge of the flow distributing. cylinder remote from the first bushing being disptised at the middle of the width of the grinding? wheel whereby the coolant is distributed-uniformly in til an axial direction across the width of thel;wheel,

- means for adjustably positioning the regulating regulating cylinder relative tothe wheel support cylinder, whereby a desired rate of supply and distribution of coolant to the wheel is effected.

4. In a wet grinding wheel of the ty'peflhaving first and second wheel support flangefmembers one of which has an annular coolant inlet chamber with axially extending passage means for admitting liquid coolant to a central recess-within the wheel, the combination of a firstkwheel support cylinder extending axially from one/bushing member and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial rows of ports adapted to supply coolant to the inner circumference hi the wheel, a second flow regulating cylinder supported from the other bushing member and disposed within and closely adjacent the wheel support cylinder, the flow regulating cylinder haying a plurality of axial rows of difierently {arranged holes in varying numbers, a third flow distributing cylinder secured to the inlet bushing memher and disposed within and radially spaced from the second cylinder, the inner circumferential surface of the distributing cylinder beingadapted to receive coolant from said inlet passages and the circumferential edge of the distributifngcylinder remote from the inlet bushing being disposed substantially at the middle of the width of the rinding -wheel whereby coolant is delivered to theregulating cylinder uniformly across the wheel width, and adjustable means associated with the other bushing member for retaining the regulating cylinder in a desired circumferential position relative to the .wheel support cylinder to align a selected row 0! holes in the distributing-cylinder with the ports in the support cylinder whereby the distribution of coolant across the face width of -.the wheel may be varied as desired.

5. In a wet grinding wheel'assembly of the type having first and second Wheel support flange members one of which has an annular coolant inlet-chamber with axially extending passage means for admitting liquid coolant to a central recess within the grinding wheel, the combination of a wheel support cylinder connected with one bushing member and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial rows of ports for supplying coolant to the inner circumference of the grinding wheel,. a flow regulating cylinder member supported from the other bushing member and disposed within and closely adjacent the inner surface of the wheel support cylinder, said flow regulating cylinder having a, plurality of axial rows of difierently arranged holes in varying numbers, and means for adjusting the regulat- 8 ing cylinder :circumferentially to selectively align the rows of holes therein with said rows of ports in the wheel support cylinder whereby the quantity and distribution of water across the width of the wheel may be varied, said adjusting means comprising a ring disposed at the exterior side of the second wheel support flange member, at least one connecting stud having a first end portion secured to the adjusting ring, a second end portion secured to the flow regulating cylinder. and an intermediate portion projecting freely through an arcuate slot in the second flange member, whereby the adjusting ring may be shifted circumferentially relative to the wheel flange members to position the flow regulating cylinder relative to the wheel support cylinder, and means for locking the adjusting ring in a selected position comprising at least one locking screw projecting throughan arcuate slot in the adjusting ring and threadedly received in the second flange membenwhereby the adjusting ring may be clamped in a desired position by tightening the locking screw.

KARL WEISS .HERMAN R. SAUTTER.

No references cited. 

